The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma and Religious Authority in Shi'ite IslamAfter the death of the Prophet Muhammad, different religious factions within the Muslim community laid claim to the Prophet s legacy. Drawing on research from Sunni and Shi>ite literature, Liyakat N. Takim explores how these various groups, including the caliphs, scholars, Sufi holy men, and the Shi>ite imams and their disciples, competed to be the Prophetic heirs. The book also illustrates how the tradition of the heirs of the Prophet was often a polemical tool used by its bearers to demand obedience and loyalty from the Muslim community by imposing an authoritative rendition of texts, beliefs, and religious practices. Those who did not obey were marginalized and demonized. While examining the competition for Muhammad s charismatic authority, Takim investigates the Shi>ite self-understanding of authority and argues that this was an important factor in the formation of a distinct Shi>ite leadership. The Heirs of the Prophet also provides a new understanding of textual authority in Islam by examining authority construction and the struggle for legitimacy evidenced in Islamic biographical dictionaries. |
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The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma and Religious Authority in Shi'ite Islam Liyakat N. Takim No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Aban Aban's Abbasid caliphs Abd Allah Ahmad al-Baqir al-Dhahabi al-Hakam al-Kafi al-Kazim al-Khu'i al-Mufid al-Rijal Al-Saffar authenticated authoritative baraka Basa'ir Beirut biographical texts chapter charisma charismatic authority charismatic office cited claim concept disciples discourses discussion divine doctrine esoteric example functions further ghulat hadith heirs hereditary charisma hermeneutical Hisham Ibid Ikhtiyar imam's imams important interpretation Islamic law Ja'far al-Sadiq Jabir juridical jurists Kashshi Kitab al-Rijal knowledge Kufa Kulayni Medina miracles Modarressi mode of authority Mu'tazili Mufaddal Muhammad Muhammad al-Baqir mystical Najaf Najashi ninth century normative office of charisma polemical political powers practices Press Prophet qiyas quotes Qur'an ra'y refuted religious authority reported reportedly rijal role routinization sayyids scholars shari shaykh Shi'i Shi'i beliefs Shi'i biographical Shi'i community Shi'i imams Shi'ism shrine spiritual Sufi Sufi holy Sufism sunna Sunni and Shi'i Tehran theological thority tion traditions transmitted Tusi ulama Umar Umayyad usul various Wilferd Madelung Zurara